Distributed Systems Scientist

About the Char Network

Char Network is a proof-of-stake application coordination protocol built on Bitcoin. By anchoring data into Bitcoin through cryptographic proofs and economic guarantees, Char will power the next generation of Bitcoin layer twos.

Char Network is led by Bitcoin developer Jeremy Rubin and built by a small, sharp, and adventurous crew pushing the limits of what Bitcoin can be. We're engineers who thrive on hard problems and bold ideas. Our work blends deep protocol expertise with a hacker's creativity to unlock new capabilities for Bitcoin at scale.

We keep things collaborative, fast-moving, and fun—where every contribution counts and every voice matters. Joining Char Network means working at the frontier of Bitcoin R&D and infrastructure, where the code you write and the algorithms you create will shape the future of the ecosystem.

About The Role

We're looking for a Distributed Systems Scientist to help us invent, formalize, and implement the Char Network Byzantine Fault Tolerant Consensus System. This role sits at the intersection of research and engineering: you'll explore hard problems in consensus, coordination, and adversarial environments — and then help our engineering team turn your ideas into hardened software.

Char Network is pioneering a proof-of-stake application coordination protocol built on Bitcoin. By anchoring state into Bitcoin through cryptographic proofs and economic guarantees, we're enabling new primitives for scaling and interoperability. As a Distributed Systems Scientist, you'll help us push these boundaries.

Responsibilities

• Protocol Research & Design

• Develop novel algorithms for consensus.

• Formalize system models, assumptions, and adversarial scenarios.

• Analyze trade-offs in liveness, safety, and performance.

• Implementation & Prototyping

• Translate research insights into robust, efficient code (C++/Rust).

• Build simulations, benchmarks, and proofs-of-concept to validate new designs.

• Validation & Security

• Design and run experiments to stress-test distributed protocols under adversarial conditions.

• Use formal methods, fuzzing, and model checking where applicable.

• Collaborate on security reviews and audits of new protocol components.

• Community & Collaboration

• Engage with Bitcoin Core developers, academic researchers, and the distributed systems community.

• Author technical documentation, papers, or BIP-style proposals.

• Contribute to open discussions on protocol governance and deployment.

Requirements

Must-Haves

• Advanced understanding of distributed systems theory (consensus protocols, Byzantine fault tolerance, CRDTs, etc.).

• Strong programming skills in Rust or C++ (or equivalent systems languages).

• Experience designing and/or analyzing adversarial distributed protocols.

• Familiarity with cryptographic primitives used in consensus and blockchain systems.

• Ability to move between theory and practice: formal reasoning and implementation.

Nice-to-Haves

• PhD or equivalent research experience in distributed systems, cryptography, or related field.

• Prior contributions to Bitcoin, Ethereum, or other consensus-critical software.

• Experience with formal verification, model checking, or advanced testing frameworks.

• Published papers, technical reports, or BIPs.

• Strong open-source collaboration background.

MZERO, LLC, the employer entity for Char Network, is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to providing an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other legally protected status.